A man was arrested for endangering children, when he left them in his vehicle after it broke down on County Road 97 in DeKalb County, Alabama.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office received a call about a man walking around on County Road 97. When deputies arrived the approached Justin T. Pinkney, 24, from Fort Payne, to see why he was walking in the road. Deputies say Pinkney stated his vehicle broke down and left his children in the vehicle. When deputies got to the vehicle they noticed a small child standing beside the vehicle and another infant in the backseat. Deputies said the children appeared to be left in the vehicle for some time.

“When the weather is this hot outside it puts everybody in danger to heat exhaustion or something worse if they are left in a vehicle for a long period of time without air. Thanks to the citizens that called this in we were able to get these kids out of this situation and thanks to the deputies, investigators and DHR for their quick response in this case,” said Sheriff Jimmy Harris

Deputies arrested and charged Pinkney with Endangering Welfare of Child. The Department of Human Resources and DeKalb County investigators were also called to the scene.